Ministerial Declaration: Teo Chee Hean on the review in the public disclosure of the full numbers about the search for bizfile persons

A confluence of several shortcomings from the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and the Corporate Regulation and Regulation Authority (ACRA) and the way they interacted between them led to the public disclosure of the full numbers about the search for bizfile people in December last year. First of all, MDDI should have been clearer in his political communications in his circular minute (CM) in July 2024 and explained the key terms and phrases more clearly. Secondly, there were internal deficiencies in the sharing and action of the information from MDDI per CM. The frequent questions were not properly disseminated within the ACRA by the officers who participated in Briefing and those who received them through E -mail. Third, MDDI should have paid more attention to the implementation plan for new cases of use of partial numbers that were more complex, such as public registers. Fourth, in deciding to disclose full numbers in search of people, acra did not first evaluate the appropriate balance between sharing full numbers and ensuring that they are not easily accessible. This has contravene the Government’s internal rules on data management. Fifth, certain security features for the search function of persons have not been adequately implemented for the new Bizfile portal. Finally, the management of incidents after public concerns about the Bizfile portal appeared should have been better coordinated and clearer. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean shared these findings by a review group in a ministerial statement in Parliament (March 6), saying that Acra and MDDI have accepted and addressed the issues identified. He told the room that the lessons in the incident must be learned and internalized by the public service. “This recent incident, although regrettable, demonstrates the commitment of the Government of continuous improvement, to support the confidence that Singapora placed in the Government and the Public Service,” he said.